Farm group makes budget pitch to the province

Apr 19, 2013

CFFO urges the government to get its fiscal house in order

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) outlines some of the key messages that it delivered to Finance Minister Charles Sousa on the upcoming provincial budget. CFFO President Lorne Small’s biggest take-home message to the government was that its priorities should be to get its fiscal house in order. The farm group also pushed for a reduction in red tape and regulatory burdens on farmers and investment in innovation and commercialization of new agricultural opportunities.

The farm organization noted that there are a number of farm families who have relatives in Europe and watch the situation unfold in Ontario and are concerned. CFFO says that the amount of debt and deficit levels is unsustainable and that the province needs more fiscal responsibility. The group also says that their farm membership is prepared to share the burden, but also ask that that burden be shared across all sectors.

CFFO says that the second biggest concern for farm families is the increasing burden of red tape. The group says that consultation is needed between government officials and the agriculture industry so that streamlining can be achieved so that farmers can be more competitive. Lastly, the farm organization is advocating for innovation and commercialization. CFFO says that the government should enable farmers and the agri-food sector to grow their businesses.

These comments were made it this week’s commentary, and can be read in full at: http://www.christianfarmers.org/

Video: CEOs of the Industry – International Edition Michael Agerley | Partner, IQinAbox

In this CEOs of the Industry – International Edition, we sit down with Michael Agerley, Partner at IQinAbox, to explore how data is reshaping the future of pig production.

After more than 20 years as a veterinarian, Michael shares his unique perspective on the shift from hands-on animal care to data-driven decision making across the pork value chain.

We dive into:

• How better data is improving real on-farm decisions

• The biggest opportunities still untapped in pig production

• How Europe is leading (and where it’s still lagging) in tech adoption

• The role of AI and smart systems in the next 5–10 years

• Why trust, leadership, and practical application matter more than ever

This conversation bridges veterinary insight, technology, and real-world farming, offering a clear look at where the industry is headed—and what it will take to get there.